July Checklist for Zones 7-8

Keep your garden growing! You may be enjoying the fruit of your labor (literally!) but there’s still a bounty of veggies and flowers you can sow now to keep your garden hard at work into fall.

Vegetables-

1. Broccoli –One of the most nutritious veggies you can grow, broccoli is a home-gardening favorite. Feeling impatient? For an early harvest, sow seeds indoors now. ‘Royal Tenderette’ Hybrid is an early producer and will provide multiple harvests over 2-3 months. You can’t go wrong with ‘Sun King’ Hybrid – an all-time bestseller.

2. Cauliflower –This brassica is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Start seeds indoors now for a tasty fall harvest! Be sure to water – cauliflowers are thirsty! – and give seeds lots of light. We love ‘Attribute’ Hybrid, which has a delicate nutty, buttery flavor and the 'Snowball' which is a favorite heirloom variety.

4. Beans –What garden is complete without a bean plant? Direct sow this garden-favorite into August, and harvest frequently to ensure the crop keeps producing. We recommend trying ‘Gold Mine’, a sweet wax bean that requires no support! Or try ‘Mascotte’, a super-productive, super-flavorful French variety.

5. Squash – If you’re looking for a veggie that’s easy to grow with huge yields, you can’t go wrong with squash! This sun-loving plant is easy to grow in garden beds and containers alike. Direct sow squash seeds now through the middle of August, and expect to harvest in about 7 weeks. Try darling ‘Cupcake’ Hybrid, which yields 2-5” fruits that are a perfect mix of sweet and savory.